Embalming process



V. OPPL.

EMBALMING PROCESS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. n, 1919 Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

2 SHEET SSHE ET I.

FIGURE 4- 141s ATT RN Y V. ()PPL.

EMBALMING PROCESS.

APPLICATION FILED Moviu, 191.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMBALMING PROCESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed November 11. 1919. Serial No. 337.210.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALENTINE OPPL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of San Jose, Calif, in the county of Santa Clara, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Embalming Processes, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to a means and method of embalming the human body after death, and it is the object of my invention to provide a method and means whereby the body may be preserved from putrefaction for an indefinite period of time.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a vault as built for the purpose of applying my improved embalming process, part broken away.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with the door open and showing a casket in place therein.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section on line -l-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the valvedcasket.

Referring more particularly to the draw" ing, 1 is a concrete vault having positioned therein an air tight receptacle 2 secured by bolts 3 and built to withstand all unusual air pressures to which it may be subjected. Receptacle 2 is fitted with a door 4. hinged at 5 and supported when open by chain 6. Door 4 engages a rabbet 7 formed in recep tacle 2 and fitted with a gasket 8 so that when closed and bolted as at 9 an air-tight receptacle is provided. In door 9 are provided a pair of valves as 10 and 11 for the purpose hereinafter described.

IVithin receptacle 2 are placed a pair of skids 12 whereby casket 13 is supported a distance from the bottom thereof and the air is allowed to circulate freely about the exterior of the said casket. In casket 13 are formed a plurality of valved openings 11 for the purpose hereinafter described.

Assuming that the body has been arranged v is considered in casket 13 and the said casket positioned as shown and the door 4 securely bolted in a closed position, valves 14 in casket 13 being left open. A vacuum pump is now applied to one of the valved openings as 11 and the air 1n receptacle 2 and casket 13 exhausted in so far as practical under the given conditions. Then this has been effected valve 11 is closed and a compressed air pump is attached to valve 10 and air charged with a suitable antiseptic is forced into the receptacle 2 and casket 13 until a pressure exceeding two atmospheres has been attained upon which the valve 10 is closed and sealed and the pump removed.

A body subjected to the above treatment can be preserved indenitely, especially if impregnated with an embalming fluid before interment. However, neither the impregnation with an embalming fluid or the charging of the compressed air with an antiseptic absolutely necessary as the air under high pressure will completely envelop the body and effectively prevent the development of putrefactive micro-organisms. But in such cases especially where the body may be removed or exposed to the atmosphere at some future time it is considered best to charge the compressed air with an antiseptic and in some cases, perhaps, to previously impregnate the body with a suitable embalming fluid. If the casket-13 containing the body is removed at some future time the valves 14 may be closed thereby preventing the entrance of air to the body and retaining there in the antiseptically charged air.

It is understood that changes in form, material, proportions, method of operation and details of construction may be made within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

The process of preserving a body from putrefaction which consists in placing the same in a valved casket with the valves open, placing the casket in a'vault embedded in insulating material, exhausting the air from said vault and casket, charging the vault and casket with compressed air impregnated with an antiseptic, and finally permanently sealing the vault.

VALENTINE OPPL. 

